Aroldis Chapman Getting Closer to Return From Suspension

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is expected to throw his last session in extended spring training today for the Yankees before traveling to New York on Saturday.

Chapman, who became the first player suspended under MLB’s new domestic violence policy, is nearing his return from the 30-game ban MLB and Robert Manfred gave him. The 28-year-old left-hander has the fastest fastball in MLB history.

Chapman is eligible to pitch on Monday night when the Yankees take on the Royals from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Yankees manager Joe Girardi named Chapman the team’s closer back in January, which will give the Yankees a bullpen combo of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman.

Chapman has yet to appear in a MLB game with the Yankees after the Cincinnati Reds traded him to New York in December in-exchange for four minor league prospects. Chapman had a 1.63 earned run average with 33 saves and 116 strikeouts over 66.1 innings for Cincinnati in 2015.

For his MLB career, Chapman has a 2.17 earned run average and 146 saves. He now has 546 career strikeouts after becoming the fastest pitcher in MLB history to strikeout 500 batters last season.